San Diego police to begin sex offender notification

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Police Department will start warning
residents and schools when a sex offender is released from prison
and is living close by, it was reported today.

Capt. Dave Ramirez of the department's sex crimes unit told the
San Diego Union-Tribune that his agency is becoming more proactive
and will follow a protocol agreed to in March by all police chiefs
countywide and the sheriff.

Some agencies, such as the Oceanside Police Department and the
Sheriff's Department, have been at the forefront in making
information public about sex offenders they consider to be risks,
the Union-Tribune reported.

Chula Vista Chief Richard Emerson, president of San Diego County
Police Chiefs and Sheriff's Association, said the basic protocol is
to notify nearby schools and neighbors, but to leave decisions
about notifying the news media up to each jurisdiction.

In a section of downtown yesterday, police distributed about 60
fliers with a picture of Jimmy Carty, 42, who was released from
prison Oct. 24 after serving about 13 years for lewd and lascivious
acts with a child under 14.

Ramirez told the Union-Tribune that each department considers
such matters on a case-by-case basis and each police agency
maintains the discretion of whether to implement the protocol in
their community.

"We're becoming more proactive because people want this
information," Ramirez told the newspaper. "We're just following
what has become law enforcement trend."

Ramirez defined high-risk offenders as those with multiple
convictions and who police believe will commit sex crimes
again.

Critics of the policy argue that handing out fliers and
notifying schools about the presence of convicted sex offenders
violates the rights of those who have already been punished for
their crimes.

"That's what they argue," Ramirez said. "They say, `Hey, I've
done my time and leave me alone,' but I think there's more pressure
for communities wanting the information that the other side of the
coin. These are people who also have to register as sex offenders
for life."

Under the new policy, sex offenders will be given 72 notice
before police start publicizing their whereabouts.

Chris Saunders, speaking for Sheriff Bill Kolender, said the
Sheriff's Department has made similar announcements of high-risk
offenders being released into areas patrolled by deputies.

The announcements have been accompanied by an advisory from
Kolender asking that residents be vigilant - not vigilantes - when
informed of a sex offender in their area, the Union-Tribune
reported.

Of the nearly 4,500 registered sex offenders in San Diego
County, 45 are classified as high-risk offenders, according to
police records.

Kate Cronin, a community service officer for Oceanside police,
said officers there have warned residents of offenders twice in the
past year.

No high-risk offenders live in Carlsbad, but Sgt. Don DeTar said
his department would warn residents via fliers or other means if an
offender with multiple child molestation convictions moved into
child-dense area.

No high-risk sex offenders live in Escondido, but it would not
be unusual for police to pass out fliers if a high-risk offender
were to move there, Lt. Jim Maher told the Union-Tribune.

The Chula Vista, National City and Coronado police departments
plan to notify local schools and neighborhoods when a high-risk
offender moves to town.